Women’s National Hockey Team plays Canada Dec. 20 at the Ralph

USA Hockey announced today that the U.S. Women’s National Team will play Canada on Dec. 20, 2013, at the Ralph Engelstad Arena as part of the “Bring on the World Tour” to help prepare the U.S. women for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

“We’re excited to bring the best in women’s hockey to one of our nation’s premier facilities and an area with such rich hockey tradition,” said Reagan Carey, USA Hockey’s director of women’s hockey. “This game will provide the great fans of the Red River Valley an opportunity to get a sneak preview of what most will watch on NBC six weeks later in Sochi.”

“Obviously we’re excited to host a game of this magnitude in the build-up to the Olympic Winter Games,” said Jody Hodgson, general manager of Ralph Engelstad Arena. “Regional hockey fans will be exposed to the highest level of international women’s hockey and it will be a must-see event this winter.”

Tickets for the game will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, March 27, at 10 a.m., and can be purchased at the Ralph Engelstad Arena box office or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $15 to $49.

NOTES: USA Hockey will make a series of announcements in the coming weeks to unveil other games that will be part of the Bring on the World Tour … Grand Forks natives Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux are members of the U.S. Women’s National Team program … Katey Stone, head women’s ice hockey coach at Harvard University, is the head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team and will coach the U.S. Women’s Olympic Team at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.